Sol Duc Valley

October 10 - Today was our second day at Lake Crescent Lodge on the north side of the Olympic National Park.  Our excursion was into the Sol Duc Valley to a hot springs resort, ranger station, campground and trailheads at the end of the road, approximately 15 miles from Route 101.

To get to the Sol Duc turn off, we had to pass another road construction project, which at mid-morning did not require a 30-minute delay.

On the road, south side of Lake Crescent

 

We arrived at the resort and had a quick look around.  There were lots of folks soaking in the hot spring pools out back.

We drove to the end of the road and began our hikes for the day.  All 5 of us walked the one mile through the rain forest up to Sol Duc Falls, a triple falls on the Sol Duc River.

Note the alternate spelling 

Cute Douglas squirrel

It was mostly a level path along the river in an old growth forest of large hemlock and Douglas fir trees, and lots of moss, ferns, and 'dampness.'

Sol Duc Falls

Betsy and I continued on up 1,700 feet and 3 miles to Deer Lake.  There was a 50% chance of showers today, which seemed to me to convert to "50% of the time it rained.  "The hike was a typical NW "forest walk" with little to no views, lots of rocks and roots on or in the trail, and lots of moisture  We even had wet snow flurries just as we arrived at the lake.

Deer Lake at 3,700 ft.

A solo, very small duck on Deer Lake

Elaine, Barbara and Paul walked the Lover's Lane Trail from the falls back to the Hot Springs Resort, a distance of 3 miles on undulating terrain.  They reported seeing lots of trees and some very large ferns.

Betsy and I were a little late on our estimate of when we would get back and retrieve the others.  So I hustled down the trail for the last 2 miles, got the car and picked Elaine, Barbara and Paul up and returned to trailhead just as Betsy emerged.  She and I covered nearly 8 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation gain.  The others completed 4 miles.

We arrived back to the lodge in time for showers, to get warm and dry.  And, then enjoyed another  nice dinner in the lodge restaurant.

Lake Crescent Lodge

Lodge Parlor